<p>My school offers a ridiculously large number of AP courses, and I need to figure out which ones to take. I’m also planning on self studying a few, but I don’t want to end up taking the easy ones and self-studying the impossible ones. For instance, I know that bio is just a lot of reading and memorizing that doesn’t necessarily require a class. So I’ll probably end up self-studying that one. So without considering the quality of the teacher, for which ones would the class really help?</p>
<p>Any of the foreign Language/Literature Tests: The class will help you speak and do activities in that target language that you cannot do at home (unless of course you’re a native speaker :))</p>
<p>Calculus AB/BC
Physics B/C</p>
<p>Unless you’re generally good at math/science, and able to teach yourself the concepts without the aid of another person than self-study the above, but a class make the above test MUCH MUCH MUCH EASIER. I self studies AP Physics and got a 5, but it took a LOT of work ;)</p>
<p>History: Its just knowing the facts, but sometimes the class helps in digestion of the information, but overall they’re just about knowing facts, etc. The dbq can be easily learned from a review book. </p>
<p>Govt./Econ: Not sure, I guess the same thing applies as History.</p>
<p>Lang/Lit: You’re probably required to take these in school anyway, but the class doesn’t really help at all…</p>
<p>MY PERSONAL FAVORITE:
Computer Science A/AB: I self studied and 5’ed both exams, but I had to do A LOT LOT LOT of programming in my free time. I also bought a textbook and went through it 
My advice would be to just take the class for this, the concepts can get tough sometimes, and debugging code is a ***** ;)</p>
<p>Hope this <em>somewhat</em> helps!!!</p>
<p>I agree that you should not do a self-study for physics B/C. However, the Calc exam is a cakewalk. My teacher last year for calculus pretty much stopped teaching toward the end of the year. Everyone in my class scored a 1 or 2. However, my friend and I decided to study together on our own and we both scored 4s.</p>
<p>It would have been nice to have taken a practice test before the exam because I ended up not answering 3 whole free response problems (I didn’t understand the partial credit system), but the multiple choice for that test is ridiculously easy. Even the Free Response was easy in retrospect; I was just being an idiot at the time.</p>
<p>Either way. Conclusion: you do not need a teacher for AP Calc. I actually feel that math is one of those subjects that generally does not necessitate a teacher where there is a motivated student and decent textbook.</p>
<p>True that. Both calculus exams are a breeeeeeeeeze. Also, you can self-study Physics C if you are taking the Physics B course – the B course is ALOT of concepts, whereas C is mainly the math part (including calculus) of it all. Btw, language will be the hardest to study unless you have taken classes for it… don’t self study a language :D. U.S. Govt is easy to self-study, very easy. Comparative is a little harder… definetely do able though. Psychology is self-study-able, just str8 up memorization I hear.</p>
<p>Is it real difficult to get a 5 on the BC exam if you didn’t take AB first? I’m coming straight from precalc.</p>
<p>nearly half the students that take the BC exam get a 5. I took it last May, and I have to say it’s rather easy. You could skip a whole chapter of calculus and still do well on the AP Calc BC exam.</p>
<p>jk_91, BC isn’t meant to be taken after AB–it’s normally supposed to be either or. BC covers Calc I and II whereas AB covers only Calc I, so taking BC after AB would be repetitive a bit. I took BC right after BC like you, and I’m confident in a 5.</p>
<p>i’m planning on self-studying euro</p>
<p>Would the information in prep books be sufficient? or should i get my hands on a textbook?</p>
<p>Many people take BC after AB. Many schools only offer that. Yes, there is repitition, but there always is in math classes. </p>
<p>Taking BC alone is also possible. BC is the equivalent of a year of college calc.</p>
<p>Spanish Language was my self study, and I’m pretty sure it murdered me. I bought a book w/ CD to practice with, and I felt okay about it, but everything was so much faster, longer, or harder to understand on the actual exam…</p>
<p>I would not self-study AP Chem… </p>
<p>I would disagree with BC. I think if you get AP Calc AB pretty well, go for it. But do lots of practice…</p>